Mayor: Signs send strong message about virus

NATCHEZ — The city of Natchez is making a statement in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in Natchez by providing residents with signs reading, “Stay Home, COVID-19 Kills,” to be placed in their yards.

Approximately 1,175 signs were made for citizens in both Natchez and Vidalia. Chesney Doyle, volunteer member of Natchez task force, said 100 of the 1,175 signs went out over the weekend and 300 signs were picked up by the city of Vidalia on Tuesday.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell, who picked up a sign on Tuesday at the Natchez Convention Center, said the idea for the signs came from Willie A. White, mayor of Port Gibson.

“This is something that is very important, and it’s something that we’ve got to do in order to reduce the spread of this deadly disease,” Grennell said. “By taking this approach and bringing the signs out, sends a strong message to the citizens that this is serious and people have got to stay home.”

With the idea in place, Grennell and the Natchez task force put their plan into action. Grennell said the task force came up with the slogan, “Stay Home, COVID-19 Kills,” for the sign.

Two hundred signs will be available for residents to pick up at noon today at Natchez Convention Center. The signs cost $5 each and also can be bought online through the Community Alliance.

“The reason is because we have a grass-root problem that will not be fixed by a governor’s orders or a mayor’s orders or any authority,” Doyle said. “It will be solved by individuals at the community level making personal decisions to stay home and keep their families safe.”

Linda Williams, a Natchez resident, drove up and bought a sign for her mom and herself on Tuesday.

“By having the sign, it shows that people need to be safe and obey the rules,” Williams said. “We don’t know when this is going to be up. I think people need to take heed of what’s going on.”

According to the Mississippi Department of Health, 24 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Adams County.

“It’s my prayer that people only go out when they’re exercising, getting essential items like food or medicine or if there’s a health issue,” Grennell said. “Other than that people need to stay at home. That will help us from creating a spike of the disease in this community.”